Search - Jimmy Madison :: 90 Degrees With 100% Humidity

Buried Treasure

Samuel Chell | Kenosha,, WI United States | 10/27/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I came upon this recording by sheer serendipity. A couple of the musicians (David Schnitter, Chip Jackson) were familiar to me and the price was right. So is the music. If you're drawn to any of the neo-bop, 1960's Blue Note recordings engineered by Rudy Van Gelder and listed under names like Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock, you'll welcome "90 Degrees With 100% Humidity." In fact, in some respects it's a new and improved version of the classic Blue Note sessions, with a more varied program (not every tune is based on a minor mode, for one thing) and audio quality that's "honest and true" (no offense to those listeners who haven't grown weary of the Van Gelderized piano sound).



In a blindfold test, Ian MacDonald's trumpet could easily be mistaken for Freddie Hubbard's in its prime. Dave Schnitter's tenor saxophone, at least on this comparatively recent recording, is more lyrical and introspective than is the case on his early recordings with Art Blakey. He's closer to Joe Henderson than Dexter for a change, and his reading of Wayne Shorter's "Infant Eyes" is masterful. But there are 8 additional tunes on the CD, including Oscar Pettiford's infectious and inventive "Tricotism."



One thing's certain: Despite the curious title, this is a recording that deserves to be played rather than left to waste away in some hot, mouldy warehouse."